Basically, your cat peeing outside the box can be caused by four main reasons: An underlying medical condition leading to painful and more frequent peeing; Problems with the litter or the litter box; Stress or anxiety that has disrupted your cat's routine and sense of safety; and.
The state or quality of the litter in the box is often the cause of out-of-box urination. A litter box that is not cleaned regularly, especially in a multi cat household, can turn a cat off from visiting his litter box. He may instead choose a more pleasant place to go, such as on the living room carpet.
They're stressed
Unfortunately, sometimes stressed or anxious kittens have a difficult time urinating in an appropriate location. If you are concerned that stress is to blame for your kitten's reluctance to use their litter box, you should consider any other symptoms that they are exhibiting.
“This behavior could be the result of a urinary tract infection, kidney disease, or diabetes. Other health problems that are painful, or simply make your cat feel “off” also could be to blame. For example, an older cat with severe arthritis might have trouble getting into a box with high sides or a cover,” says Lund.
Move the litter box to the right location.
Keep the litter box in a quiet, low-traffic spot where the cat can see people coming. Choose a room with at least two exits so the cat doesn't feel cornered. Keep litter boxes away from food and water bowls. Cats do not like to combine these two areas.
Marking territory with urine is your cat's way of dealing with stress. They feel anxious and are trying to relieve their anxiety by staking out their boundaries. Leaving their urine scent is the most emphatic way to say, “I'm stressed.” tract problems don't clear up by themselves and require urgent attention.
Territorial “marking” may be considered part of normal behaviour and can be triggered by the presence or odour of another cat. However, some cats will also “mark” their environment in response to stress or anxiety. Cats may also change their urinating patterns if they have issues with their litter tray.
Cats 'spray' urine as a way of marking their territory. They therefore feel safer when they can smell more of their own urine, so if your cat has suddenly started peeing on your bed or carpet, it could be because they're trying to combat feelings of stress.
Cats having a stress response show a lot of the typical signs of distress — wailing, digestive changes, lots of clawing, licking, and peeing — so diagnosing anxiety is mostly about figuring out the specific trigger.
But cats are born with the instinct to dig and cover their waste. Theoretically, she says, if you place an appropriate litter box in a room, a cat or kitten will use it. Stray cats transitioning from outdoor to indoor life also know what to do, but they might insist on using your houseplants rather than the litter box.
Cat urine has less smell when it first exits kitty's body and more odor as it sits in the litter box. Bacteria begin to break down the urea found in urine, releasing that characteristic ammonia smell.
Cats can be fussy! They like everything to be 'just so'. Your kitty may be urinating outside their litter tray because they aren't happy using it. This could be because of its location, accessibility, litter substrate or the maintenance/hygiene of the tray.
When you notice that your kitty is urinating outside of the litter box, the first step is to rule out medical issues with a Urinalysis and bladder radiographs (x-rays). The most common medical cause is “idiopathic stress-induced cystitis,” which accounts for approximately 75% of cases.
Citronella
We know Citronella as a mosquito repellent, but it is an equally effective cat peeing deterrent. You can plant a few of them in your garden to keep cats away. However, the most effective is mixing Citronella and water in a 1:4 (one part essential oil and four parts water) to create a spray.
Cleaning the area thoroughly with vinegar first and then applying an enzyme treatment will break down and evaporate the uric acid and your home will be free of cat odors. Vinegar and enzyme cleaners work on all surfaces: hardwood floors, carpets, mattresses.
Continue to place them in the litter box a few times per day to help them remember where it's located. “You can gently place your kitten in the litter after meals and after they wake up, and perhaps scrape the litter a bit with your own fingers to let them know it's nice and diggable,” McMillan says.
For the most part, all experts agree…the litter box should be scooped 1-2 times each day. “Litter boxes should be scooped at least once or twice a day, and it's even better if you can get to it as soon as your cat has finished his business,” said By Dr. Stephanie Janeczko in this featured post on Petfinder.
Hydrogen-peroxide is best for hardwood floors suffering from cat urine smells but also works for carpets, couches, and even clothing. According to CatCentric, hydrogen peroxide is 30% more oxidizing than chlorine. This will allow the elimination of the ammonia smell coming from cat urine.
The other problem is how acidic cat urine is. This can damage your floor, even eroding the finish on a hardwood floor. This is why it's essential to clean cat urine from wood furniture and floors as soon as possible, to prevent damage and lingering odors.
Cats Peeing Habits
The average healthy cat urinates at least twice a day, while young kittens urinate up to 6 times per day. Along with healthy and younger cats, female cats also tend to urinate more frequently, leaving older cats as the main sector for infrequent urination.
If you have more than one cat, it may be best to change the cat litter more often, every 2-3 weeks. If you use a non-clumping litter and have only one cat, changing the litter twice per week is a good guideline. If you have more than one cat, every other day may work better.